VCS Flange Isolating Gasket Kit

Welcome to Know VCS Flange Isolating Gasket Kit

The VCS flange isolating gasket kit was created to effectively seal and insulate important flanges, especially in cases where phenolic gaskets were not working well in RTJ flanges. The gasket was successfully developed and tested by a major oil and gas company. The VCS gasket was placed in operational service in 1981 after proving it has superior sealing performance. Since then, hundreds of thousands of VCS gaskets have been put into service around the world. Current users include every international oil and gas company operating in the worldwide market.

The VCS flange isolating gasket kit provides exceptional insulating and general sealing performance in aggressive material applications. The gasket kit is suitable for all services up to and including ANSI 2500# and API 10,000# classes. And one complete set of VCS flange isolating gasket kits includes one central isolating gasket, one insulation sleeve per bolt, and two insulating and two plated steel washers per bolt.

Components of VCS Flange Isolating Gasket Kit

The VCS flange isolating gasket kit mainly has 4 parts: one central isolating gasket retainer, a spring-energised PTFE seal, isolating sleeves, and washers. In the following content, we will know more about them

Central Isolating Gasket Retainer

The central isolating gasket retainer is usually a G10 gasket bonded with an SS316 metal core. The G10 material can be replaced with G11 or G7, and the steel core can also be made from another type of steel.

Spring-Energised PTFE Seal

The spring-energised PTFE seal is part of the VCS central isolating gasket and serves as a sealing element. This procedure explains why the VCS gasket offers so many advantages. Other seals are available on request, like FKM.

Isolating Sleeve

The isolating sleeves are normally G10, G11, Mylar, Nomex, or other materials.

Isolating Washer

The metal isolating washer we often use is zinc-plated carbon steel, as it is cheap, but steel can be too. The GRE insulating washers we use are G10, G11, phenolic, mica, and others.

Application of VCS Flange Isolating Gasket Kit

• It is a more convenient spiral-wound type gasket replacement
• Locations where one prefers an integral seal element
• Critical service applications
• High-pressure flanges
• High pH Service
• H₂S Service

Advantages and Benefits

Today’s widespread use of the VCS flange isolating gasket kit is due to its numerous advantages. In the following sections, we will explore these advantages in more detail.

• It has extremely high reliability for sealing and insulating all critical services.
• The VCS gasket can seal and insulate at all pressures up through ANSI 2500# and API 10,000#.
• It can withstand severe service conditions, including large bending moments, vibration, temperature, and pressure cycling.
• Tackles corrosive environments, including high concentrations of CO₂, H₂S, produced water, etc.
• It has outstanding isolating properties for cathodic protection, galvanic corrosion, and other pipe system isolation needs.
• Insulating kits (sleeves and washers) always include high-strength double washers and full-length sleeves for maximum assurance against short circuits.
• High-strength laminate material resists failure due to excess compression.
• A spring-energised PTFE seal provides radial load and encapsulation in the seal groove to prevent cold flow.
• Available to match any flange specification (ANSI, API, BS, DIN, AS, or others).
• Can seal mismatched RTJ flanges with raised-face flanges.
• Reusable.
• The design allows for straightforward installation, makeup, and removal. The rigid construction helps facilitate installation. The design necessitates minimal bolt loads. Less make-up force is required, resulting in less flange and bolt stress. Self-aligning and centring; no special tools required.

Recommended Isolating Gasket Bolt Torque Values

ASME B16.5 Recommended Values in [ft-lb]

	150#	150#	300#	300#	400#	400#	600#	600#	900#	900#	1500#	1500#	2500#	2500#
NPS	Rec	Max	Rec	Max	Rec	Max	Rec	Max	Rec	Max	Rec	Max	Rec	Max
1/2	30	45	30	45	30	45	30	45	95	120	95	120	95	120
3/4	30	45	55	90	55	90	55	90	95	140	95	140	95	140
1	30	45	55	90	55	90	55	90	155	220	155	220	155	220
1 1/4	30	45	55	90	55	90	55	90	155	255	155	255	230	350
1 1/2	30	45	95	160	95	160	95	160	230	380	230	380	335	530
2	55	90	55	90	55	90	55	90	155	255	150	245	230	380
2 1/2	55	90	95	160	95	160	95	160	230	380	230	380	335	530
3	55	90	95	160	155	255	95	160	155	255	335	560	470	785
3 1/2	55	90	95	160	155	255	155	255	-	-	-	-	-	-
4	55	90	95	160	155	255	155	255	335	560	470	785	800	1400
5	95	160	95	160	155	255	155	255	470	785	840	1400	1370	2170
6	95	160	95	160	155	255	230	380	335	560	640	1065	2080	2995
8	95	160	155	255	230	380	335	560	640	1065	1085	1805	2080	3155
10	155	255	230	380	335	560	470	785	640	1065	1700	2830	4165	6005
12	155	255	335	560	470	785	470	785	640	1065	2080	3465	5595	8090
14	230	380	335	560	470	785	640	1065	840	1400	3005	4390	-	-
16	230	380	470	785	640	1065	840	1400	1085	1805	4165	6105	-	-
18	335	560	470	785	640	1065	1085	1805	1700	2830	5595	8900	-	-
20	335	560	470	785	840	1400	1085	1805	2080	3465	7320	10730	-	-
22	470	785	840	1400	1085	1805	1370	2280	-	-	-	-	-	-
24	470	785	840	1400	1370	2280	1700	2830	4165	6945	11765	18060	-	-